Yarn-end handling device



B. GRILL YARN-END HANDLING DEVICE March 4, 1941.

Filed NOV. 1'7, 1939 ai... J Mw@ W M, ain-:

lNvENTOR:

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ATTORNEY .M

Patented Mar. i 4, 19,4 1

vYARN -END HANDLING DEVICE 'Benjamin Grin, valdese, N. c., assigner to Waldensian Hosiery Mills, Inc., Valdese, N. C.; a. corporation of North Carolina 'Application November 17, 1939, Serial No. 304, 8'I6 11 Claims.. (Cl. 66-135) This invention relates to yam-end handling devices, useful in those circular knitting machines wherein longitudinal or supplemental yarns are lincorporated in the tubular fabric additionally to the regular or knitting yarns. An example is the wrap stripe or analogous type of machine, wherein the wrap yarns, usually gathered manually in a bunch or cluster, are required to be tensioned or pulled downwardly' ,within the cylindrical path of the fabric or stocking, during the initial stages of knitting each product, to hold the supplementalyarns taut in I i proper position for feeding them to the needles. In the circular knitting of stockings, mens,

l5 womens, childrens or infants', it is frequently desirable to introduce supplemental or longitudinal yarns usually of different character or color from the knitted or body yarn, for the formation of stripes, clocks or other patterns or effects, these longitudinal or stripe yarns becoming combined with the knitting yarns but with,- out necessarily being knitted into the fabric; each body yarn in such a case being of 'thel nature of a circular weft, while each additional or stripe yarn may be compared with a warp. As herein illustrated and designed the present, invention is adapted for use in certain knownmakes of so-called transfer top wrap stripe circular knitting machines, but is not intended to be limited thereto. In such machines vthe stocking top section, which is frequently ribbed, is first' knitted in another machine, and this rib-top is then transferred to the wrap-stripe machine and applied to depend from the circle of needles; the

wrap yarns being subjected to tension, and then,

' bythe wrap fingers, applied or wrapped around selected needles, from course tol course, according to the design of the product.

In one heretofore prevailing practice, at the 40 commencement of the regular knitting or following the completion of each product, theintroduced or wrapyarns are handled as follows.

They are gathered and bunched or twisted together and held in a cluster below the level of v their feeding mechanism, and are then severed,

as by scissors, from the previous product, but frequently by means of a stationary cutter mounted in a convenient flxedlocation at the side of the machine, to which the operator may laterally swing the previously completed stocking and yarn group to eect such severing. Thereafter the yarn cluster is removed from the cutter and attached or clipped to awelght which may hang freely and apply gravity'pull toall of the several yarns of the group as is desirable to facilitate the starting of knitting of the next stocking. One type of gravity weight used for this purpose has been provided with an upstandingv extension 4or stem formed into a hook, and

with a spring yarn clip on the weight, so that the 5 severed, yarn group can' be engaged in the clip and manually wound somewhat around the shank'; or the cluster might be first wound on the 'shank before cutting and gripping. Another plan was to tie the clustered yarns in a 10 knot after severance and hook the weight on to the knot, so as to pull the yarns down into the cylinder in position to cooperate in the feedingof these yarns tothe needles.

Under such known systems the operations of l5 severing and applying the yarn-cluster to the holding weight have been found to b'e objectionable in the consumption of time necessary for these manual steps, whichmay aggregate into a substantial time loss and consequent produc- 20 tion delay especially when a single operative attends to a considerable number of knitting machines.

A further existing objection has been that there has lbeen a substantial waste of material in'that 25 the several or many longitudinal or wrap yarns have had to be pulled down through their feeding devices to an excessive extent to permit the described cutting and weight applying operations, resulting in objectionably long loose yarn ends 30 on each product. The general object of the presentinvention is to afford a yam-end handling device which eliminates the noted objections of delay, labor loss and yarn waste, and which is compact and 35 convenient in handling, and effective in operation. A particular object is to simplify manipulation and dispense with the need of performing separate successive operations, namely, the pulling aside ofthe supplemental yarn group to a 40 lateral point for severing, and the attaching thereto of the centrally suspended tensioning weight.

With the present invention a. weighted and freely depending device'is adapted to be applied 45 to. and act upon, a single clusterv of several supplemental yarns in a marmer to perform the several functions of severing the cluster and thus releasing the completed product, holding or clamping the new yarn ends as a group or bunch, 50

and pulling them down within the cylinder to. dispose them in position for feeding to the needles.

Other and further objects and advantages will be explained in the 'hereinafter following de- 5g,v

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the top -end of a yarn handling device embodying the present invention, when arranged in its upright or substantially natural operating posture.

2 is a side elevation of the device'shown in Fig.v 1. closed'position as it will be when functioning in the machine.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with. the

device in its open or receiving position, in which `it may be so held manually, and with the upper Part of the`deviceshown in vertical section takenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. A f Fig. 4 on an enlarged lscale is a horizontal secthe yarn represented by a crinkly line. .Y

Fig. 5, on the same scale as Figs. l--3,- is an exploded view of the mechanical parts of which the illustrated -device is constituted, with the main halves or sections of the device each shown in inside view.

Fig. 6 is a more or less diagrammatic figure illustrating the manner and principles of the practical use of the device in a wrap stripe circular knitting machine.

Referring to the drawing, the diagram Fig.- 6 shows'a length o f tubular fabric zc, representing the top section of a stocking, without wrap stripes, but preformed on the same or different machine. Anumber of supplemental or wrap yarns y are shown, with their ends depending Within the tubular path, their introduction-into the fabric not having. begun. These appear 'ex-- tending generally longitudinally downward and below the knitting level and are-shown gathered or hunched into a-.yar'n cluster z, to-whichtiie device I 0- hereof is attached,- `providinggriawity force to pulland-hold undercontrol all'of--tl'ie` yarns of the group.- The kni-tting or body yarnsare not shown, but there is shownacircular-bank the cams and means for actuating the `needlesnot being shown. The knitting yarns are to be understood to-be fed to the needles-by conventional means, represented by the feed mechanism c, only partially shown.-

The needles are shown to be standing at varying levels, and adjacent to their upper ends A-is illustrated a surrounding latch ring-d, for ex-f ample of the pivoted type. Carried on the latch? ring are to be understood the conventional knit-l ting yarn feeding fingers, not shownz'an'dj-the ring is shown as carrying a series-'of wrap-yarn'v control members e, as-sometimes-employed in' cooperation with-the series of-wrap-'yarn -feed ngers f. Each finger l has a yarn-eye at itslower end, and these ngers may beV movable-orV pivoted upon a suitable supporting member for annular carrierv g. The conventional wrapzya'r'n- `feed mechanism Ah. as a whole is sulciently hereL known. The 'wrap yarn "flngers' have suitable- ."applied,'. In Figs. 1 and 2 the device is in its,

pended from the grouped wrap yarns y, conl verging within" the cylindrical path of the fabric,

movements. between or around those needles which are suflicien'tly lifted, to wrap the additional yarn around such needles for forming the desired pattern. 'I'hese general parts thus described constitute an illustrative embodiment of sufficient portions of a circular knitting machine for the explanation of the purposes, functions and-operations of the present invention. The wrap yarn .feed mechanism h and the needle cylinder -b are to be understood as having such-relative vertical separating movement, as by lifting the mechanism `or head h., as to give access to A*the fabric and yarn ends when desired, as when device of this invention bis to be-I the handling this devicejcomprises a free body of substantial weight to provide the necessary gravity force fory tautening OP-tensioningand holding al1 of the individual wrapwyarns.` Said device is characterized: in the fact that it carries means for severing the inferiorly gathered yarn cluster zand for gripping and holding the cluster between the yarn supply.-E and fthe" severing point; the severing orcuttingfunction and the clamping orholding function being'thus effectively combined inthe .one single'device -which may be operated to'bring. about both functions through a. single manually movable operating member. 1

The 'details of construction' of the .device are illustrated in Figs-1 .to 5. The weighted device is preferablyprovided with an. upstanding rod or stem.- II which is hooked at its .upper end. The body of the device, for operating the cutting and clamping means. is'shown as openable and4 closable by'jaw-likemovementsand for-this purpose is divided finto -two sections or parts, which are shown substantially equal but are not necessarily 's--iThe-body-section I2 carries the stem- I-Iv whilethe'-body section I3 is connectedto the first section'to* lbe movable or-swingable thereon;

the two sections-.together constituting a i free ten- SiGIling'--D\` tautening-bbdyf Substantial Weight.

tions In'aybe swu'ngt'o openposition as shown in Fig. 3--2o'r` returned to'noi'm'al closed fposition as showniti Figs'L- 1l, '-2 and? 4. 'l-Fo'r simple-manualoperation-Tof '-tle' "device-lit' is"v shown as" provided is-'show'i with-inward"flanges IIT, spaced more clo'sely together -fsoas "to 'belv accommodated between theL-'ange's I'I; and' sliding 'uponthem with.

snug t duringl'the-"swinging' movements. The device-i is" preferably `Jmaintained normally closed by' a resilient'imeans shown'as a coil spring I9 of-suilicient strength to. perform effectively the operations to--be described, the ends of the spring IS seating' upon" short screw heads or studs 20 arranged between their flanges Yoi" the respective extensions= -liand I6; 1 squeezing. the lever extensions opens the-upper ends or-:jawsIZ and I3= of ther-device, `"and --on releasef'the spring closes it,=1this' complete'- operation' effecting' both the` severing and' clamping functions. 'I'he spring closing action preferably performs both functions, and certainly 'the clamping function, so that upon manual release the yarn cluster z remains held.

'I'he main or upper portion of each of the body sections I2 and I3, as best shown in Figs. 1 and'4, is 'channel-like, to provide a hollow interior accommodating the severing and gripping means. Thus the section or jaw I2 is shown as formed with a front wall or flange 22 and a rear flange 23, while the jaw I3 is formed with a front flange 24 and a rear flange 25. Associated with these parts is a combined clamping and severing means, which may be considered as comprising a severling means and coperating clamping means.

The severing means considered separately is adjacent to the front flanges 22 and 24 and is shown as comprising a cutter or shear blade 21 formed or attached at the inner side of the flange 22 and a cooperating cutter or blade 28 at the inner side of the ange 24, the two blades being shown offset to give a shearing action for cutting the yarn group, preferably during the closing movement of the device.

The gripping or clamping means consistsof a pair of members, the clamping surface or wall 30 at the inner side of the flange 23 and the cooperating wall or surface 3| at the inner side of the flange 25. Like the cutting member 28, the gripping member 3| is extended rightwardly for cooperation with the complementary member, but in the case of the gripping member the corners are rounded, so that there is no cutting or shearing action, the yarn cluster z becoming squeezed or pinched between the grip members in the manner shown in Fig. 4. This is found to be more reliable and satisfactory than clamping by an abutting arrangement; the sliding pressure affording a wedging grip upon the material, preferably cushioned as will be described.

While the members of the severing and holding means might be formed integrally with the swinging sections or jaws I2 and I3 they are preferably made separately of suitably hard material and attached in the locations as shown. Thus the shearing blade 21 and the pinching wall 30 are shown attached to the flanges 22 and 23 by means of short screws 33. Between the elements 21 and 30 is shown a block 34 attached by a screw 35', this constituting a convenient means of detachably mounting the upstanding hooked stem II, when used. The cutting member 28 and gripping wall 3l are shown as mounted on the section I3 in a different manner. Instead of being positively attached by screws they are shown as pressed strongly apart by spacing members or springs 31, one above the other, and these separators may afford a slight cushioning action improving the cooperation and life of the two shearing members, and relieving the gripping members from danger of crushing the enclosed yarns. The members 28 and 3I and the cushioning spacers 31 are shown secured in their operative positions by means of rods 38 which are extended through these elements and through the flanges 24 and 25.

The operation of the disclosed machine and invention has been generally indicated. At or in advance of the start of each knitting operation, the invention comes into use; this in the case of a transferl top machine usually following the transfer of the top into the disclosed machine. The invention is preferably applied while the needle cylinder b and the mechanism h are relatively separated., The group of yarns y. perhaps hanging free, or between the yarn supply and the previous product, are gathered together below the feed fingers f, forming the yarn bunch or cluster z, which may be somewhat twisted. Holding the yarn cluster in one hand the device III is held and squeezed in the other hand, opening its jaws, between which the cluster is then inserted and set well down in the passage between the jaws. Immediately the opening pressure may be relaxed, the spring I9 closing the jaws, so that in the same operation the severer 21, 28 cuts oif all of the yarns of the bunch while the clamper 30, 3| grips the new ends between the severing point and the supply. 'I'his operation may readily `be performed at a point in the length of the vyarns close to the previous product and high up toward the supply, thus minimizing yarn wastage. The weighted device is then let down or drawn into the needle cylinder or fabric .'c, and the cylinder and the yarn feed mechanism are reset into operating relation. 'Iiie device now hangs free, pulling taut the wrap yarns against their working tensions, not shown, provided between the fingers f and the yarn source. As clearly shown in Fig. 6 the yarns thus become disposed in a position for feeding by the fingers f to the needles. Circular knitting is now started, and at appropriate points of time the fingers f are moved inwardly, outwardly and otherwise to lay the wrap yarns selectively around one or two or more of the needles according tothe pattern desired. The hook II is an optional feature. It may be hooked into the fabric of the stocking top section :c in order to position the weighted device at the desired height, where it functions as an anchor or holding point for the hunched ends of the wrap yarns.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by letters Patent is:

1. For use in a circular knitting machine of the kind wherein supplemental or longitudinal yarns may be incorporated with the knitting yarn in the fabric, a device for handling the ends of a group vof such longitudinal yarns interiorly of the cylindrical path of the fabric?, comprising a ybody of substantial weight adapted to depend interiorly to provide gravity force for tautening the yarns, said body carrying means for severing such group of yarns gathered in a cluster, and means for gripping and holding such yarn cluster between the supply and the severing point; and a manually operable means or handle arranged on said device to actuate both the severing means and gripping means in a single operation thereof, whereby the device may be left hanging freely within the circular path thereby to hold the group of yarn ends with the yarns under control in suitable position for feeding to the knitting needles. f

2. The device as in claim 1 and wherein the body comprises two sections swingingly connected to open and close, witha spring to close them and handle .extensions to open them by grasping and squeezing in oppositiony to the spring resistance. l

- 3. For use in a circular knitting machine of the kind wherein supplemental or longitudinal yarns maybe 'incorporated with the knitting yarn in the fabric, a device for handling the ends of a group of such longitudinal yarns interiorly of the cylindrical path of the fabric, comprising a body y l severing such group of yarns gathered in a cluster,

, and operable means for gripping and holding such yarntcluster between the supply and the severing poin 4. The device as in claim 3 and-wherein the body comprises two parts swingable together-and apart, with manual means to cause their opening and closing.

5. The device as in claim 3 and wherein the body comprises two parts swingable together and apart, with manual means to cause their opening and closing, and the severing and gripping means each comprises complementary members, one on each body part, and moving in mutual sliding contact.`

6. For use in a circular knitting machine of the kind wherein supplemental or longitudinal yarns may be incorporated with the knitting yarn in the fabric, a device for handling the ends of a group of such longitudinal yarns interiorly ofthe cylindrical path of the fabric, comprising a body of substantial weight adapted to depend interiorly to provide gravity force for holding down the yarn ends, said body carrying operable means for severing and clamping such group of yarns gathered in a cluster, and a manual means arranged to actuate the severing and clamping means to cut oi the yarn cluster and hold all the yarn ends between the supply and severing point.

7. The device as in claim 6 and wherein the operable means comprises complementary severing `and clamping members, and the body comprises opposed sections carrying such complementary members and swingable toward eac other to operate said means. n

8. The device as in claim Gand wherein the operable means comprises complementary severing and clamping members, and the vbody comprises opposed sections carrying such complementary members and swingable toward each other to operate said means; said manual means being arranged to swingapart said sections in opposition to a strong spring to swing them towards each other.

9. For use in a circular knitting machine, a device for handling the ends of a group of longitudinal yarns, comprising a weighted body to provide gravity force for 'anchoring or holding the yarns, said body carrying means forboth severing and clamping such group of yarnsv gathered in a cluster, and manual means adapted to actuhaving sumcient gravity thereupon to tauten operatively the bunch of yarns.

BENJAMIN GRILL 

